Sectional spring-tire.



G. H. VOGEL, B. D. LOBDELL 81]. E. BALL.

SECTIONAL SPRING TiRE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 24. m2.

1,156,333. Patented 0ct.12,1915.

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GEORGE H. VOGEL, BRITTON D. LOBDELL, AND JOSEPH E. BALL, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK; SAID LOBIDELL ASSIGNOR TO SAID VOGEL AND SAID BALL.

C QN L SPRING-TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented cit. 12, 1915.

Application filed December-24, 1912. Serial No. 738,504.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE H. VOGEL, BRITTON D. LOBDELL, and JOSEPH E. BALL, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sectional Spring-Tires, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in vehicle wheels for automobiles and similar vehicles requiring resilient tires, and refers more particularly to the structure of the tire and to the means for attaching the same to the rim or telly of the wheel.

The main object is to produce a commer cially practical substitute for the usual pneumatic or cushion tire so as to obviate punctures, blow-outs and other troubles incidental to the use of inflated rubber tires, and, at the same time, maintain a uniform resiliency under varying loads.

Another object is to place the tire on the wheel in such manner as to partially en- .Velop the rim and maintaina'symmetrical relation thereto so that the rim will occupy a central position in the space between and some distance beyond the inner edges of the tire thereby permitting the use of a felly of relatively large diameter without increasing the size of the wheel.

A further object is to adjust the connections between the tire and rimso as to cause the edges of the tire to draw inwardly toward the rim and also toward the axis of the wheel when the tread of. the tire is subjected to pressure as for example under load, thereby gradually reducing the transverse diameter and increasing the resistance of the spring segments as the load increases.

Other objects and uses will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a face view of a vehicle wheel embodying the various features of our invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of a portion of the Wheeltaken on line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cen 2 which is'movable but is normally jheld in place against lateral movement by a relatively stationary annular flange 3 and an opposed relatively movable retaining ring engaging opposite sides of the telly, the ring being normally seated in an annular groove 5 in the adjacent side of the rim under spring tension.

The rim '2 may be :held against relative circumferential movement in the felly by any suitable means as lugs 6- on the rim engaging in transverse grooves 7- in the telly thus permitting the rim to be displaced or replaced laterally when the ring is removed.

The opposite edges of the rim are provided with outwardly diverging circular rows of lugs 8- having outwardly converging lengthwise slots '9 which extend through the periphery of the rim to form open sided bearings or hooks for the the supporting members presently described, said rows of lugs being spaced equidistant from the longitudinal center of the rim and concentric with the axis of the wheel, the lugs being spaced uniform distances apart circumferentially.

The tire comprises a circular series of similar spring segments 10 arranged edge to edge circumferential-1y around but some distance apart from the rim 2 so as to partially envelop said rim and allow ample space for relative radial and lateral movement of the rim and tire under the resilient action of the spring segments. These spring segments 10 are of someis an outer what greater length than a half circle and arched outwardly transversely of and across the periphery of the rim but are relatively narrow circumferentially of said rim and are preferably made of sheet steel for lightness, strength and durability. The ends of these segments are disposed equi-distant from and at opposite sides of the rim and extend inwardly toward the axis of the wheel some distance beyond the periphery of said rim and are provided with separate reinforcing members 11 which are flexibly connected to their respective lugs -8 by separate links l2.

The central tread portions of the springs 10- are slightly depressed inwardly to form circumferential recesses l3 for receiving and retaining a tread ring or band 14:' which is fitted closely in said recesses to additionally bind the segments together against relative lateral displacement and also to relieve these portions of the springs from excessive wear or strain, said ring or band being provided with inwardly projecting radial studs 15 which fit loosely in radially alined apertures 16 in the springs 10 to hold the ring and springs against relative circumferential movement and at. the same time allowing resillent act1on of the springs from end to end to avoid as far as possible rigid fastenings and consequent crystallization of said springs.

The reinforcing members 11 preferably consist of metal plates riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the inner faces of the ends of the springs and therefore constitute parts of the corresponding segments having their inner ends beaded around and forming grooves for the ends of said springs to additionally stifien and support the same.

The links 12- constitute separately movable supports for the ends of their individual springs and for this purpose their outer ends are, flexibly connected by separate pivots -17 to and between suitable lugs 18- which project inwardly from the inner faces of the corresponding plates -11 and are preferably integral therewith while the opposite ends of said links are flexibly connected by pivots 19- to and between the corresponding hook-shape lugs -8- on the rim 2.

The radius of the circle in which the pivotal connections between the links 12 and ends of the spring segments -l() are located is considerably less than that of the circle in which the pivotal connections be tween said links and rim are disposed and, therefore, the links at opposite sides of the rim normally diverge inwardly therefrom at approximately an angle of 45 with the median plane of said rim so as to allow the ends of the segments 10 to yield or flex inwardly under load or pressure on the tread and against their normal outward tens1on.

'Ihe outward movement of the ends of the segments and also of the links under the normal outward tension of the springs is limited by shoulders 2lon the inner ends of the links normally engaging abutments on the adjacent sides of the rim at the inner sides of the pivots l9 thereby normally keeping the ends of the springs in circumferential alinement and permitting either end of each spring to flex or yield under load or pressure independently of the other end or other springs. This normal outward tension of the ends of the springs also tends to retain the links -l2 in interlocking engagement with the hook-shape lugs 8- of the rim but also permits said links to be attached to or detached from the lugs by abnormally springing the corresponding ment toward the adjacent lug 8 suflicicnt to slip the pivot -19 through the open side of such lug.

It will be observed that when the tire is under load tending to press the tread springs inwardly toward the axis of the wheel the outer ends of the links will be similarly moved in the same direction but in addition to this movement will draw the ends of the springs toward the rim thereby shortening their radii and increasing their resistance in direct proportion to any increase of load while on the other hand when the load is re lieved the tension of the springs will return them and their links to their normal positions.

In some instances we may prefer to use an inner ring or band 30 of less width than the outer band for additionally tying the spring segments together and adding further resilient resistance to the tread portion of the tire in which case the band -30- will be made of spring metal fitted closely against the inner faces of the segments -l0 and provided with apertures for receiving the inner ends of the lugs --15 which serve to lock both of the bands and segments against relative circumferential movement.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with the rim of a vehicle wheel, a tire comprising a circular series of spring segments surrounding the rim and having their opposite sides pro vided with outwardly converging links pivoted to corresponding sides of the rim and constituting the only means of connecting the tire to the rim. 7

2. In combination with the rim of a vehicle wheel, a tire comprising a circular end of the segseries of spring segments surrounding the our hands this seventh day of December, 10 rim and having their opposite sides pro- 1912.

vided with outwardly converging links pivoted to corresponding sides of the rim and constituting the only means of connecting JOSEPH E ALL the tire to the rim, said rim and links having cooperative means for limiting the out- Witnesses: Ward swing of the links. H. E. CHASE,

In witness whereof we have hereunto set EVA E. GREENLEAF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

